Sentenced to One Year in Prison for 16 Unlicensed Korean Medicine Treatments Over Two Months
Illegal Procedures Targeting Celebrities and the Public Continue to Emerge
A Chinese national male who performed acupuncture treatment without a license as a Korean medicine doctor has been sentenced to prison.
A Chinese national man who performed acupuncture treatment without a license as a Korean medicine doctor has been sentenced to imprisonment. (Photo is for illustrative purposes and unrelated to the article content). Getty Images
According to the legal community on December 20, Judge Kim Sungeun of Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 13 sentenced Mr. Seong (69), who was indicted for violating the Act on Special Measures for the Control of Health Crimes (Unlicensed Medical Practitioner), to one year in prison and a fine of 1 million won. The verdict was delivered on December 12.
Mr. Seong was brought to trial on charges of operating an office in Guro-gu, Seoul, as a de facto clinic without obtaining a license as a Korean medicine doctor, and performing acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, and other traditional Korean medical treatments. Investigations revealed that the location was equipped with treatment beds, medical needles, and other related equipment.
The investigation found that from June to August last year, over a period of about two months, Mr. Seong performed unlicensed traditional Korean medical procedures a total of 16 times, receiving more than 3 million won in the process. The court determined that this constituted repeated medical practice for profit.
In the ruling, Judge Kim stated, "When a person without medical qualifications performs acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, or similar treatments, it can seriously threaten patient safety," and emphasized, "Given the significant risk to public health, the nature of the crime is not minor."
Under current medical law, only licensed medical professionals are permitted to perform medical procedures, and any treatment outside the scope of one's license is strictly prohibited. Unlicensed medical practice can result in imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won.
Meanwhile, recently, it was revealed that broadcaster Park Narae received treatment from an unqualified person known as the "Injection Aunt," sparking controversy. Following this incident, there have been increasing concerns that unlicensed medical practices are widespread not only around celebrities but also in beauty and treatment settings targeting the general public.
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